When we look at a certain object, a painting for example - we won't be able to appreciate what's in it, what is painted and what else goes with it if the painting is just an inch away from our face. But if we try to take it a little further, we'll have a clearer vision of the whole work of art.
We reach a point in our lives when we are ready for change. A whole pile of information that will help us unlock our self improvement power becomes evident because we are now searching for something to benefit us.
Until then, something can be staring us right in the face, but we don't see it. The only time we think of unlocking our self improvement power is when everything goes wrong. For some, it's not until they hit "rock bottom."
Take a couple of frogs as an example -
Try placing Frog A in a pot of boiling water. What happens? He twerps! He jumps off! Why; because he is not able to tolerate sudden change in his environment - the water's temperature.
Now try Frog B: place him in a luke warm water, then turn the gas stove on. Wait until the water reaches a certain boiling point. Frog B then thinks "Ooh ... it's a bit warm in here."
People are like Frog B in general. Today, Anna thinks Carl hates her. Tomorrow, Patrick walks up to her and told her he hates her. Anna stays the same and doesn't mind what her friend says.
The next day, she learns that Kim and John also abhor her. Anna doesn't realize the importance of, and the need for, self improvement until the entire community hates her. But it's never too late!
We learn our lessons when we experience pain. We finally see the warning signs and signals when things get rough and tough.
When do we realize that we need to change our diet? When none of our jeans and shirts fit us any longer! When do we stop eating candies and chocolates? When all of our teeth have fallen out!
When do we realize that we need to stop smoking? When our lungs have gone bad and we can't breathe any longer.
When do we pray and ask for help? When we realize that we're going to die tomorrow.
The only time most of us ever learn about unlocking our self improvement power is when our whole world is crashing and falling apart all around us.
We think and feel this way because it is not easy to accept the fact that we need to change. But change becomes even more painful when we ignore it.
Change will happen, like it or hate it. At one point or another, we are all going to experience different turning points in our lives - and we are all going to eventually unlock our self improvement power. Not because the world says so, not because our friends are nagging us, but because we realized it's for our own good.
Happy people don't just accept change, they embrace it. Now, you don't have to feel the tremendous heat before realizing the need for self improvement.
Unlocking your self improvement power means unlocking yourself from being in the state of mind that "it's just the way I am." That is such a poor excuse for people who fear and resist change. Most of us program our minds like computers.
Jen repeatedly tells everyone that she doesn't have the guts to be around groups of people. She hears her parents, sister, and her teacher state the same things about her to other people.
Over the years, that is what Jen believes. She believes it's her story and that just "the way I am." And what happens? Every time a large crowd would come over to their house, in school, or in the community - she tends to step back, shy away and lock herself up in a room. Jen didn't only believe in her story, she lived it.
Jen has to realize that she is not what she is in her story. Instead of having her story posted on her face for everyone to remember, she has to have the spirit to show people "I am an important person and I should be treated accordingly!"
Self improvement may not be everybody's favorite word, but if we look at things in a different point of view, we might have a greater chance of enjoying the whole process instead of counting the days until we are fully improved.
Three sessions in a week at the gym would result in a healthier life, reading books instead of watching TV or playing video games will enlighten us with more profound knowledge. Going out with friends and peers will help you take a step back from work and unwind.
You'll find out soon enough that just when you are starting to enjoy the process of unlocking your self improvement power, you'll realize that you're beginning to take things light and become happy. You will be a better person and a happier one too!
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